Eritrea opposes peacekeepers deployment in Somalia

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Eritrea opposes peacekeepers deployment in Somalia
August 24, 2006

NAIROBI (AFP) -- Eritrea Wednesday opposed the deployment of a peacekeeping force in Somalia, which is scheduled for next month, warning that its rival Ethiopia wants to use the opportunity to invade Somalia.

Last week defense chiefs from the regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said that the first elements of the nearly 7,000-strong force are to assemble in northeast Kenya near the Somali border in late September, ready for deployment in the shattered Horn of Africa nation.

The Eritrean information ministry said that the IGAD deployment would affect efforts by Somalis themselves to restore a functional authority in the lawless country.

Asmara says that Islamic militia who are currently dominant in the country are attempting to restore calm in the capital Mogadishu and breathe life into stalled institutions of governance.

"Yet, instead of encouraging this internal initiative, various attempts are being made to pave the way for external military intervention so as to obstruct the aforementioned developments," the ministry said in a statement published on its Website.

"One of such attempts is the ridiculous proposition about the need of a peacekeeping mission in Somalia being advocated in the name of IGAD and the African Union, the latter being an organization that had uttered not a word during the Somali people's 16-year long plight," the statement added.

IGAD, whose members are Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Djibouti, and nominally Somalia, is credited with mediating two years of convoluted peace talks that resulted in the creation of the current Somali government in 2004.

Ethiopia has already deployed troops in Somalia to protect the weak government from a feared advance by the Islamic militia, who control a swathe of southern and central Somalia, including Mogadishu.

"Thus, it should not be very surprising to see Ethiopia applying every political tool in its disposal to undermine positive developments in Somalia," the statement warned. "The only task this so-called peacekeeping mission will accomplish is to implement the [Ethiopia's ruling party's] own agenda and nothing more."

The Islamists have vowed to oppose the deployment of peacekeepers in Somalia, expected to start with two battalions from Uganda and Sudan, with a wing of radical clerics vowing to organize attacks against the peacekeepers.

Ties between Ethiopia and Eritrea have been badly strained for the past year with Asmara warning of a new conflict unless a 2002 border decision is put into place.

Analysts have warned that chronic instability in Somalia, which has been without a functioning central authority since the 1981 ouster of the dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, could become a proxy battleground for Ethiopia and Eritrea, which fought a bloody border war from 1998 to 2000.

Ethiopia has openly announced its resentment of the Islamists, and Eritrea has been accused of arming them.

Jostling for power in Somalia has scuppered more than 14 international mediation bids.

[michael_ital]

This is shaping up to be a fierce struggle, with Wesytern backed entities, namely Ethio, determined to not let an Islamic government prevail.

[eyes-only]

I donÂ’t know how IGAD can deploy troops when Eritrea and Djibouti are both opposed to it. The Islamic courts are also opposed. The Ugandans made it clear they will only go in if there is agreement from both sides. This is looking more and more like an Ethiopian invasion. Somalia does not need peace keeping forces. We all know what happened last time there were peace keeping forces in Somalia.

[michael_ital]

Western pressure. Namely, tyhe U.S. BELIEVE, their dirty, grubby little hands aren't out of the pie yet.

[eyes-only]

Michael, they already admitted their secret war in Somalia using the CIA failed. What more would the AmericanÂ’s want? It is ridiculous to bring in Ethiopia and other neighbouring countries and create a bogus war on Muslims. This is likely to spread and create unimaginable problems in the entire region. They are playing with fire. The west better leave Somalia alone if they really care about peace and humanity.

[Lord Diplock]

I cannot see the Kenyan gov't deploying any substantial forces in somalia, unlike the Tigrays in Ethiopia, the Kenyan gov't is accountable to its voters (parliament) and hence will be very coy about sending troops. I cannot see it happening.

If any foreign troops will come to somalia, I suspect, the bulk of them will be Ethiopians troops. the somali gov't is really nothing but an Ethiopian conceive entity and they will fulfill their masters' demand .

I hope the ICU fight to the last man.

[michael_ital]

Eyes

key words here, "IF they cared about peace and humanity". In a word, they don't. They care about the destabilization of Islamic governments, and more importantly, security for Israel. That is their number one priority roght now. regardless of the fact they DON'T share the same agendas. But America is too dumb ass to see this. Just like they're too dumb ass too learn from their past failures when creating a regime change. So theyre going to continue to foster hate and hostility, and to do the jews dirty work around the ME.

[Lord Diplock]

[quote="michael_ital"]Eyes

key words here, "IF they cared about peace and humanity". In a word, they don't. They care about the destabilization of Islamic governments, and more importantly, security for Israel. That is their number one priority roght now. regardless of the fact they DON'T share the same agendas. But America is too dumb ass to see this. Just like they're too dumb ass too learn from their past failures when creating a regime change. So theyre going to continue to foster hate and hostility, and to do the jews dirty work around the ME.[/quote]

The public can see this, it is the idiots in Washington who are in zionist control. one veteran American politician (and a synicated columnist) described, quite correctly in my view that Washington as an occupied territories a la Palestine.

It is quite incredolous for non-American political geek to understand why these guys are so myopic in relation to the jewish state. it is now 'un-American' to state a non bias view on Israel. disturbing stuff.

[Lord Diplock]

[quote="michael_ital"]Eyes

key words here, "IF they cared about peace and humanity". In a word, they don't. They care about the destabilization of Islamic governments, and more importantly, security for Israel. That is their number one priority roght now. regardless of the fact they DON'T share the same agendas. But America is too dumb ass to see this. Just like they're too dumb ass too learn from their past failures when creating a regime change. So theyre going to continue to foster hate and hostility, and to do the jews dirty work around the ME.[/quote]

The public can see this, it is the idiots in Washington who are in zionist control. one veteran American politician (and a synicated columnist) described, quite correctly in my view that Washington as an occupied territories a la Palestine.

It is quite incredolous for non-American political geek to understand why these guys are so myopic in relation to the jewish state. it is now 'un-American' to state a non bias view on Israel. disturbing stuff.

[fagash_killer]

[quote="michael_ital"]This is shaping up to be a fierce struggle, with Wesytern backed entities, namely Ethio, determined to not let an Islamic government prevail.[/quote]

ethopia was a jewish land, so thats why the western countries united and sended hub and to ethopia, the good news of this part is in the interest of arabs to support the islamitist, egypt and eritirea are for example for some reasons against ethopia, you know what they see my enemy's enemy is my friend. this time re somalis needed, and nobody can stop it aslong arabs are on our side